Moulding for building exterior and machine for cutting same
A machine for cutting eavestrough into two segments. The machine has a guide plate and a pair of cutting wheels. The guide plate has an opening of a shape similar to that of the cross-section of the eavestrough but slightly larger so that as the eavestrough is fed through the opening, it is guided by the guide plate. The cutting wheels are positioned such that after the eavestrough exits from the opening, its bottom wall passes between the wheels where it is cut.
This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 12/458,280 filed on Jul. 7, 2009, which application claims priority pursuant to 35 USC 119 of Canadian application no. 2.637.132 filed Jul. 9, 2008 which application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to moulding disposed beneath the roof, windows and doors of a building and more particularly to moulding composed of a length of eavestrough, a method of forming the moulding and to an apparatus for cutting the moulding from a length of eavestrough.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA common feature of many buildings is a decorative crown moulding disposed beneath its eaves. The moulding is referred to variously as colonial trim, Victorian trim and frieze board depending on its design. The moulding is manufactured specifically for use as moulding and is generally relatively expensive.
I have invented moulding which is formed from lengths of eavestroughs. The means for forming the moulding is simple and straightforward and once formed, the moulding can be easily installed on the exterior of a building. The cost of such moulding is significantly less than that of conventional moulding yet is attractive and, like conventional moulding, enhances the appearance of a building. I have also invented a cutting machine for forming lengths of eavestrough into such moulding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, the method of forming the moulding on the exterior of a building includes the following steps; first a longitudinally extending cut is formed in the bottom wall of a conventional eavestrough in order to separate the eavestrough into outer and inner segments. The outer segment is composed of the front wall and an outer portion of the bottom wall of the eavestrough while the inner segment is composed of the back wall of the eavestrough and a remaining inner portion of the bottom wall. The inner portion of the bottom wall is then positioned beneath the eaves or elsewhere on the exterior surface of a building such that the back wall projects outwardly from the exterior surface. The front wall of the eavestrough is then hung from the projecting end of the back wall so that it extends downwardly and inwardly toward the exterior surface of the building.
The apparatus for cutting the eavestrough includes a housing; a guide plate; and a pair of cutting wheels rotatably mounted to the housing. The guide plate has an opening of a shape similar to that of the cross-section of the eavestrough and is sufficiently large to permit the eavestrough to pass through it. However the opening is not large enough to permit significant lateral movement of the eavestrough. The cutting wheels are rotatable about parallel axes and each wheel has an outer cylindrical surface, oppositely facing side surfaces and a circular cutting edge at the intersection of the cylindrical surface and one of the side surfaces. The cutting wheels are positioned such that after the eavestrough exits from the opening in the guide plate, its bottom wall passes between the cutting edges with resulting formation of an elongated cut in the bottom wall.
The moulding, the method of forming the moulding and the cutting apparatus of my invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED METHODS AND EMBODIMENTSWith reference to
The back wall 14 of the eavestrough is usually nailed to a fascia of a building and is flat to ensure that it can be nailed or screwed firmly in place.
With reference to
The inner segment 26 can optionally be severed into one or more relatively short pieces by means of horizontal and vertical cuts 28, 30 respectively. The upper edge or lip 14a of the back wall is folded back on itself to form a loop 14b. Like loop 16c, loop 14b has an open mouth, generally 32 along the length of the back wall.
The inner segment of the eavestrough is attached beneath the caves of a building and projects outwardly from an exterior wall of the building. The outer segment is attached to the projecting end of the inner segment and the two segments combine to form the moulding of the invention. The inner segment can also be attached beneath the windowsills or lintels of a building. The steps for attaching the inner segment beneath the caves is described with reference to
With reference first to
With reference to
As illustrated in
With reference to
Two vertically spaced brackets 60, 62 are attached to the front wall of the guide plate and separate cutting wheels 64, 66 are rotatably attached to each bracket.
With reference to
The cutting wheels are positioned such that cutting wheel 64 is above the bottom wall while cutting wheel 66 is below the bottom wall. The cutting edges 64d, 66h lie in the same imaginary plane 70-70.
It will be understood of course, that modifications can be made in the moulding and the method of forming the moulding of my invention without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A cutting machine for cutting a bottom wall of an eavestrough including: a housing; a guide plate; and a pair of cutting wheels rotatably mounted to said housing, said guide plate having an opening of a shape similar to that of the cross-section of said eavestrough and sufficiently large to permit said eavestrough to pass therethrough with minimal lateral movement thereof, said cutting wheels being rotatable about parallel axes, each said cutting wheel having an outer cylindrical surface, oppositely facing side surfaces and a circular cutting edge at the intersection of said cylindrical surface and one said side surface, said cutting wheels being positioned such that after said eavestrough advances through said opening, its said bottom wall passes between said cutting edges with resulting formation of an elongated cut in said bottom wall.
2. The cutting machine of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of said eavestrough is defined by lower and upper oppositely facing elongated surfaces, said cutting wheels being positioned such that the cylindrical surface of one said cutting wheel contacts said lower elongated surface while the cylindrical surfaces of the other said cutting wheel contacts the upper elongated surface.
3. The cutting machine of claim 1 wherein the cutting edges of both said cutting wheels lie in the same imaginary plane.
4. The cutting machine of claim 2 wherein the cutting edges of both said cutting wheels lie in the same imaginary plane.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2012
Publication Date: Jan 10, 2013
Inventor: Scott Tripp (Oshawa)
Application Number: 13/573,301
International Classification: E04F 21/00 (20060101);